Trailer: The Croods

The Croods is sure to provide some much-needed holiday entertainment. Source: AP

MOVIE REVIEW: This cleverly constructed cartoon adventure is the clear top pick of the school holiday releases.

Cynical observers might be tempted to write off The Croods as just an aside to Ice Age, with humans replacing animals, but that's the wrong call.

Almost a decade of research, development and innovative design behind the scenes has paid off with impressive results.

Nicolas Cage gives voice to Grug, the head of a caveman family forced to look for a new home as the world's land mass divides into continents.

Having formerly lived in an environment where venturing outside for more than a few minutes meant certain death, Grug and his clan have some serious acclimatising to do now they are out in the open 24/7.

Eldest child Eep (Emma Stone), a prehistoric tomboy, proves the most adaptable of the bunch, all but saving her family from becoming dinosaur food when she befriends a resourceful teenage nomad named Guy (Ryan Reynolds).

In spite of a few flat spots, The Croods gets the job done.

It is easy to tell when a voice cast is enthused by the 'toon they're working on - even the much-maligned Cage is full of beans and their positive vibes continually give the film a lift.

Better still, the story is surprisingly involving, and the quality of animation is stunning (particularly in 3D).

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